Features

Performance Matters

Faced with greater performance pressures, coatings manufacturers need to recognize the key attributes high-performance pigments can deliver to their formulations�and ultimately their customers.

Christine Canning Esposito08.10.06

Answering ever-increasing customer needs for durability, regulatory compliance and color are absolute essentials for any coatings manufacturer, and high-performance pigments (HPP) can deliver on all fronts. But admittedly, they do so at a higher cost. According to SRI Consulting, classic organic pigment prices range from $7.50-$20/kg compared to $25-58+/kg for organic HPPs.

The range and capacity of HPP products continues to expand, stirring exploration of the benefits more expensive HPPs can offer in a variety of coatings end markets. In applications ranging from industrial to automotive to architectural, HPPs can be a smart solution.

According to industry sources, the global market for HPPs is estimated to be in the area of 20,000-25,000 tons. Some suppliers say the market is set to grow as end customers demand more from their finished coatings, and subsequently, paint makers seek out HPP technologies to answer those requests.

�"The HPP market for paint and coatings continues to grow," said Brian E. Leen, corporate vice-president and general manager, Performance Pigments � Sun Chemical Corp. "The demand for more unique appearance effects